I'm so frustrated with doctors right now that I want to scream!
In July I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and triglycerides, and put on Lipitor. This was a month after my dad had a heart attack at age 47, so it was pretty scary to me--but it was also a shock because I'd been following a very low-cholesterol vegetarian diet for over three months at that time.
Well, Lipitor did some good--it brought my cholesterol down from 279 to 200 and triglycerides to about 230 from about 250. But it made me so depressed that I had to stop taking it. So my doctor put me on Lopid a little over a month ago. I got my latest test results back today--and both numbers were over 300!
I don't get it--what am I doing wrong? I exercise (not as much as I'd like, but I'm working on it), and I don't smoke and never have. I'm overweight but I have been losing (15 down, 50 to go to get to my ideal BMI). I have been making a conscious effort to eat whole grains rather than processed foods, and I'm still a vegetarian. I don't like eggs, I eat very little dairy since I'm lactose sensitive, and I'm doing my best to stay away from junk food, so my diet has very little cholesterol or saturated fat. And I don't know anyone else my age with this problem (I'm 22). What else can I do to get my numbers down?
Your triglcirides were low compared to mine. When I got my first tests results back my triglcerides were 765. Doc put me on liptior and they dropped into the 200's. They are still high but nowhere near where they were. Maybe w/ the holiday season you got a little off track? Triglcirides are simple fats basically so if you had a few bad days prior to the blood work you could get a higher reading. Seems to me like your doing everything right maybe you need to switch to a diffrent med maybe the lopid isn't doing the trick. HTH GL
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Has your doctor checked your thyroid? My endocrinologist was surprised my triglycerides weren't elevated since my thyroid is underactive. She said underactive thryoid is one of the causes of high triglycerides.
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You probably don't need your TSH checked again. Did you have fasting bloodwork? I saw a new medicine advertised on TV yesterday that's for cholesterol & tryglicerides, but can't remember the name of it. I'd request new bloodwork & if it's still elevated, try another medication.
Sometimes, even though you're doing everything right, your numbers won't drop as much as you'd like;a lot of it has to do with family history. That said, I don't understand why a new medicine would actually show an increase your levels. Good luck.
What did your doctor say about the results on Lopid?
Was it high before you were a vegetarian? The only way my very high chol was cured was when I went on a really low carb diet with lots of meat and fish added and EFA supplements as well. Which is weird, I thought it should be the other way around!
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All of my initial bloodwork was done fasting because I was also having a 2 hour GTT done at the same time. The TSH was normal, and the GTT was very slightly elevated.
Most of the reason I went vegetarian was because my dad eats red meat for nearly every meal, his triglycerides just topped 1400, and he had a heart attack. That was really scary considering that heart disease runs in his family and his mother died of a heart attack. So honestly I don't think diet is doing anything at all for my numbers either way. My doctor thinks it's almost all genetic given my family medical history. Since I'm also at risk for diabetes, though, I try to avoid processed and starchy foods in favor of vegetables and proteins with some whole grains. I took flaxseed supplements for a while, which provide the same benefits as fish oil, but I haven't taken them in a while. Maybe I should start those again.
Last edited by purplerose; 01-17-2006 at 05:28 AM.
All of my initial bloodwork was done fasting because I was also having a 2 hour GTT done at the same time. The TSH was normal, and the GTT was very slightly elevated.
Most of the reason I went vegetarian was because my dad eats red meat for nearly every meal, his triglycerides just topped 1400, and he had a heart attack. That was really scary considering that heart disease runs in his family and his mother died of a heart attack. So honestly I don't think diet is doing anything at all for my numbers either way. My doctor thinks it's almost all genetic given my family medical history. Since I'm also at risk for diabetes, though, I try to avoid processed and starchy foods in favor of vegetables and proteins with some whole grains. I took flaxseed supplements for a while, which provide the same benefits as fish oil, but I haven't taken them in a while. Maybe I should start those again.
You need to have the levels of your homones checked again.
High cholesteral and trigls is also a side effect of menopause. So if your ovaries or uteris is not working right, that too can trigger the high numbers.
(Same can happen with diabeties)
Alsp do start with the flax or fish oil, neither will hurt to add.
Take care,
Patty
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Well, I'm 22 so I hope I am nowhere near menopause I know I need to lose weight and I've been working very hard on that, hopefully that will help with everything. I will ask about having my thyroid checked again though, along with rechecking for diabetes.
Cholestrol is one of my big problems too .... I am skinny, I used to smoke (I dont now) I exercise three times a week adn have done for four years, I eat well and rarely if ever eat red meat yet my doctor keeps telling me I am headingfor a stroke !!!! well what else can I do !!!
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Well, I'm 22 so I hope I am nowhere near menopause I know I need to lose weight and I've been working very hard on that, hopefully that will help with everything. I will ask about having my thyroid checked again though, along with rechecking for diabetes.
The sad part is, age no longer has anything to do with it. It is about the condition of your ovaries. I went into premenopause starting at age 30.
The symptoms are almost the same as PCOS symptoms.
*Menopause is the result of the ovaries stopping production of hormones. Which effects all other hormone organs/systems.*
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The sad part is, age no longer has anything to do with it. It is about the condition of your ovaries. I went into premenopause starting at age 30.
The symptoms are almost the same as PCOS symptoms.
*Menopause is the result of the ovaries stopping production of hormones. Which effects all other hormone organs/systems.*
I think it's also called premature ovarian failure (POF) these days. My aunt got it at 36 and I was terrified I had it too (the PCOS diagnosis came as a relief)... they probably checked for it when they did your blood work to diagnose you with PCOS, but it probably would not hurt to be checked again.
Amanda-
My nutritionist told me that high triglycerides are typically a result of too much carbs as sugar causes them to be high. My triglycerides and cholesterol were high and she put me on a diet of meats (mainly chicken, fish, turkey...limited beef and pork), all veggies excepts potatoes, corn, carrots and peas, lots of olive oil, nuts (walnuts, almonds and pecans) and seeds, avocado, cheese (parmesan and feta mainly). She also put me on a lot of vitamins.....glucobalance (it has loads of all the vitamins...especially B vitamins), fish oil, vitamin E, COQ10, magnesium. All these are known to help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. Just a suggestion for you as it has helped me. I was not keen on taking cholesterol med because it is very hard on your liver. Hope this helps.
Mandi
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Mandi, I eat much like that only without the meat I take a multivitamin, calcium supplements, and flaxseed oil (same benefits as fish oil) as well. I talked to my doctor today and she thought that either the Lopid really isn't working correctly, or it is just taking a long time to kick in. So she's going to do another lipid panel at the end of next week and if my numbers are still high, she's going to switch me to a different statin since I can't take Lipitor. She also tested my liver enzymes, which were normal--you are very right about these meds causing liver damage, and Lopid is also known to cause muscle damage.
high cholesterol--very frustrated! 
